The Toyota Tacoma was introduced into Toyota’s lineup as a compact pickup truck in 1984 and is still made today. The Tacoma is one of the most popular compact trucks in the USA and has many features consumers expect from today’s trucks including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
A 2012 Toyota Tacoma has a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds when properly equipped.
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
There’s a bit more to know about the 2012 Toyota Tacoma tow capacity which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
How Much Can The 2012 Toyota Tacoma Tow?
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma has a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Toyota dealership for details to confirm how much your Tacoma can tow.
You can check out our guide to Toyota Tacoma towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2012 Toyota Tacoma Engine Towing Specs
There are two engine options for the 2012 Tacoma, which is a 2.7L V4 engine and a 3.5L V6 engine.
2012 Toyota Tacoma 2.7L V4 Engine Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2012 Toyota Tacoma 4.0L V6 Engine Towing Capacity: 6,500 pounds
2012 Toyota Tacoma Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma drivetrain options are 4×2 and 4×4.
2012 Toyota Tacoma 4×2 Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2012 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Tow Capacity: 6,500 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2012 Toyota Tacoma engine. Your Toyota Tacoma may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2012 Toyota Tacoma Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2012 Toyota Tacoma is 1,535 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2012 Tacoma will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2012 Toyota Tacoma Tow Package
The 2012 Tacoma comes standard with a tow package installed, which includes a Class-IV towing hitch receiver, ATF cooler (on automatic transmissions only), an engine oil cooler, 130-amp alternator, heavy duty battery, 4- and 7-pin connector with converter, and trailer sway control.
2012 Toyota Tacoma Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma has a maximum tow capacity of 6,500 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer pulling. This number is similar to its main competitors, the 2012 Nissan Frontier and the 2012 Chevy Colorado.
Here are some similar vehicles to the Toyota Tacoma and their towing capacities below:
2012 Chevy Colorado Towing Capacity: 6,000 pounds
2012 Nissan Frontier Towing Capacity: 6,500 pounds
2012 Honda Ridgeline Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2012 GMC Canyon Towing Capacity: 7,600 pounds
2012 Toyota Trucks Towing Capacity Chart
Model | Towing Capacity |
2012 Toyota Tundra | 10,400 pounds |
2012 Toyota Tacoma | 6,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2012 Toyota Tacoma Owner’s Manual on Toyota’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2012 Toyota Tacoma.